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3D Printing News Briefs: October 25, 2019

We’re talking about art and business in today’s 3D Printing News Briefs. An art installation at Millennium Park was created through the use of 3D printed molds, provided by Fast Radius. Farsoon has signed a joint development agreement with Rapid Manufacturing, and EVOK3D is partnering up with the Currie Group to accelerate its sales growth.

Fast Radius Makes 3D Printed Molds for Art Installation

Artist Edra Soto was commissioned to build an outdoor art installation in Chicago’s popular Millennium Park, which resulted in her freestanding Screenhouse, constructed by Navillus Woodworks out of over 400 custom-cast concrete blocks and opening today in the park’s Boeing Gallery North. Navillus enlisted the help of Fast Radius to create 3D printed molds for the blocks, which helped save on development time and money. The company printed the molds out of PA 12 material, using HP’s MJF technology. 3D printed lattice structures were used in the construction, which also helped reduce the weight of the piece.

“Our mission is to make new things possible to advance the human condition. I can think of no better way to serve that mission than helping bring Edra Soto’s beautiful design to life in Chicago’s Millennium Park, where it will be enjoyed by our fellow Chicagoans and visitors from around the world. This project with Navillus shows the potential of additively manufactured molds to redefine construction project design,” Fast Radius CEO Lou Rassey said in a case study about the project.

Farsoon and Rapid Manufacturing Sign Joint Development Agreement

PA12-based parts fabricated by Rapid Manufacturing on the beta-Flight-HT403P in Rümlang.

Stuttgart-based Farsoon Europe GmbH, a subsidiary of Chinese company Farsoon Technologies, has signed a joint development agreement for beta testing of its Flight technology with Rapid Manufacturing AG, headquartered in Rümlang, Switzlerland. Per the agreement, earlier this month Farsoon installed its new Flight-HT403P, with a 400 x 400 x 540 mm3 build cylinder and 500W fiber laser, at Rapid Manufacturing. After completing initial tests successfully, the Swiss company is now using the laser sintering system to make plastic PA12 components and parts with high resolution, low surface roughness, and good mechanical properties for its customers.

“We are impressed by the strong will power to increase the competitiveness of laser sintering, which Rapid Manufacturing is systematically implementing with the installation of our machine,” stated Dr. Dirk Simon, the Managing Director of Farsoon Europe GmbH.

EVOK3D and Currie Group Partnering

Australian company EVOK3D, which supplies and supports both professional and production 3D printing solutions and is the HP 3D Production Specialist Partner for the country, announced that it has signed a partnership equity agreement with Currie Group, a top end-to-end Graphic Arts service supplier in New Zealand and Australia. Currie Group provides and services high-quality printing equipment, and EVOK3D will leverage its management experience to continue growing its sales and support capability.

“3D printing has moved beyond just prototyping and is now a viable direct manufacturing technology. To meet the growing demand for these technologies we needed to scale the business and Currie Group is ideally positioned having pioneered digital disruption of the 2D print industry over the last 20 years. For our clients across education, design, industry and healthcare it means they can continue to invest with confidence,” stated Joe Carmody, the Managing Director for EVOK3D.

Discuss these stories and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the Facebook comments below.

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Wikifactory’s Docubot Challenge Creates a Hardware Solution for Documentation

International startup Wikifactory, established in Hong Kong last June, is a social platform for collaborative product development. Co-founded by four makers and counting 3DPrint.com Editor-in-Chief Joris Peels until recently as a member of its advisory board, Wikifactory also has locations in Madrid and Shenzhen, and is dedicated to makers and DIY projects. It’s an all-in-one workspace designed for open source communities to help connect product developers to useful tools, such as 3D printing.

Recently, the platform launched the Docubot Challenge to help inaugurate the first Distributed Hardware Hackathon in the world. The global open source community was charged with finding a hardware solution for an issue that every maker faces – documentation.

This is a very prevalent issue in the maker community in terms of open knowledge for the purposes of digital fabrication. Documentation makes it possible for community members to gain the necessary knowledge and skills to further contribute to an ever-growing base of information. But just because it’s useful doesn’t mean it’s easy – while documenting fabrication methods may be a necessary evil, it can be a painstaking and tedious process that can slip through the cracks if you’re not meticulous about updating your work.

“Every product developer faces the task of having to document their work, but it’s a painful process. When your hands are full with what you are doing, it’s hard to take a step back and jot down the steps. That’s why documentation is often written after the process has already been completed, so there will always be missing photos or information,” the challenge states.

“We should strive to make the process of documentation easier, because Documentation in itself is an amazing thing. As a resource, it helps a broader community learn the skills and acquire the knowledge to contribute to a growing open source knowledge base.”

The Wikifactory team really wanted to turn the first edition of its Docubot Challenge into a distributed event; it is, after all, tagged as being “designed for makers, by makers.” Due to support from makerspaces around the world – specifically Pumping Station One in Chicago, Makerspace Madrid, and TroubleMaker in Shenzhen, China – this hope became a reality. Wikifactory is a great tool when organizing maker community events like workshops and hackathons, as it makes it simple to bring teams together online so they can contribute before, and even after, the event.

The goal of the challenge was to, according to WikiFactory, “accelerate a solution to a common problem faced by product developers” by collaboratively building a real-time documentation assistant that will take photos and videos on command, and could even convert speech to text. As someone who spends plenty of time transcribing recorded interviews, I want to know when this documentation assistant will be commercially available!

“With a hardware solution, doing documentation can be made into a more interactive, assisted process which can help accelerate engagement and collaboration in open source design and hardware,” the challenge stated.

The Docubot Challenge was originally instigated by Wikifactory members Gianluca Pugliese and Kevin Cheng. The participants were connected through Wikifactory to host project events in their own cities, engage with other teams around the world, and accept feedback and advice from other problem solvers. While it was definitely a learning experience, Docubot is now officially an open source hardware initiative, and great progress has already been made.


“The Shenzhen Team developed an app that converts speech to text, the Madrid Team created a fun game that helps makers beat laziness and get documenting, and the Chicago Team created a button that signals a phone to start recording voice messages as well as pictures,” Wikifactory wrote.

The worldwide maker community is invited to get involved and contribute to the Docubot initiative. Whether you’re working on design ideas, developing the app and OS, or the hardware integration, the collaborative project needs your help in further extending the ideas by the team members who originally started it.

“With interactive and intercity sessions, participants will get to build relationships with creative problem solvers from around the world. It is an opportunity to apply skills in digital fabrication machines like 3D printing, hardware, electronics, programming and robotics for a relevant cause.”

Learn more about the Docubot Challenge here.

Discuss this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the comments below.

[Images: Wikifactory]

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3D Printing News Briefs: May 19, 2019

We’ve got business news and materials news for your weekend, just ahead of next week’s massive RAPID + TCT show. 3D Hubs and AM Ventures are both opening new offices, but in vastly different countries. BASF 3D Printing Solutions is launching a new TPU material for use with HP’s latest 3D printer series, and Freeman Technology will be hosting a seminar about AM powders next month.

3D Hubs Opening US Headquarters in Chicago

Prototyping machine shop at mHUB

Two months ago, automated manufacturing platform 3D Hubs announced that it had received $18 million in Series C funding, some of which was earmarked for opening a dedicated US office to best serve the over 10,000 clients it serves here. Now, the company has announced that its new North American headquarters will be located in Chicago, Illinois, with the added bonus of an endorsement from the city’s Mayor Rahm Emanuel. This decision allows 3D Hubs to centralize its US workforce, and it plans to double the team at headquarters by the end of 2019. The offices will be located at the mHUB technology innovation center in the city’s West Town neighborhood, and are scheduled to open next month.

“3D Hubs joins the long list of international companies choosing Chicago for their future. With our growing tech economy and strong digital manufacturing community, Chicago is the perfect home for this innovative company,” said Mayor Emanuel. “I look forward to seeing 3D Hubs success in Chicago in the years to come.”

AM Ventures Opens Office in Korea

Germany-based AM Ventures Holding GmbH (AMV) is a top independent strategic investor in the AM industry, and over the last four years has been busily setting up an ecosystem of sustainable strategic investments, in addition to a partner network for using advanced manufacturing technologies in serial production. Now in an effort to further grow its technology venturing activities, it is expanding to the Asia Pacific region with a new office in Busan, Korea.

AMV’s Chief Venturing Officer Arno Held said, “AMV is pleased to announce the opening of its new office in Korea serving the Asia-Pacific region, a market which is already demonstrating active AM adoption for serial production and a large growth potential. AMV commits to this dynamic region and the investment opportunities available there.”

Having already moved to its new Korean home , AMV’s liaison office AM Ventures Asia has appointed Simon (Sangmin) Lee, a previous sales manager at the Korea office of EOS GmbH, as the Regional Director of Asia.

BASF 3D Printing Solutions Launches Ultrasint TPU Powder

Rüdiger Theobald, the Senior Manager for Sales & Marketing in Powder Bed Fusion at BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH, discusses the company’s new Ultrasint TPU powder in a recent YouTube video. The highly flexible yet accurate material, which is perfect for automotive applications and coating and simulation solutions, was launched specifically for HP’s new Jet Fusion 5200 series.

“Two great brands, two great companies merge together, both with innovative technologies on hand and a great new ecosystem to support the industry with a very innovative material,” Theobald said in the video.

“We have found out a good way to operate with different wall thicknesses, that makes it very reasonably usable for any kind of pressurized applications in regards of liquids or gas.”

Freeman Technology to Host Seminar on AM Powders

Next month, powder flow specialist Freeman Technology will be hosting a free seminar in the UK entitled “Understanding Powders for Additive Manufacturing.” The one-day event, which will take place on June 11th at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, will introduce attendees to the principles of powder rheology, and explain how associated methodologies can also be applied in order to gain a better understanding of how to optimize powder for AM applications.

During the seminar, there will be a presentation from Freeman Technology’s Operations Director Jamie Clayton about understanding and measuring powder flow and behavior. Industry experts, such as Ricoh Material Specialist Enrico Gallino and Product Manager Cathryn Langley with Malvern Panalytical, will present about some of the major challenges when it comes to powder handling, including how to quantify the size and shape of metal powders for AM. Delegates will also have the chance to see a demonstration of the company’s FT4 Powder Rheometer. You can register for the seminar here.

Discuss these stories and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the Facebook comments below.

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Interview with Zach Kaplan of Corazon Capital, mHUB and Inventables

Zach Kaplan

Zach Kaplan is the founder and CEO of the company Inventables, a 3D carving company offering a powerful machine, intuitive software, and unique materials that make carving easy and inspiring. Kaplan is also a member of the board of directors for mHUB, Chicago’s first innovation center focused on physical product development and manufacturing, and a founding partner at Corazon Capital. He has a vested interest in the entrepreneurial economy that can be afforded through 3D printing and product manufacturing as his company helps to enable entrepreneurs within this field.

Give us a bit of info on your background?

I got started in digital manufacturing at Glenbrook North High School.  That experience inspired me to get a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

What was your first experience as a maker?

My first experience as a maker was probably playing with construction toys as a child.  We had LEGOs, Construx, and cardboard brick blocks. The first electrical project I remember was a soldering an autonomous robot together in 6th grade.

Chicago has deep roots in manufacturing, what effect has that had?

Manufacturers in Illinois account for 12.6 percent of the total output in the state, employing 9.5 percent of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing was $103.75 billion in 2017. In addition, there were 572,700 manufacturing employees in Illinois.  I think that has helped us build an ecosystem to advance digital manufacturing.  

Chicago has been the center of gravity for digital manufacturing.  We’ve shown a lot of leadership when it comes to the growth in the movement. The Museum of Science and Industry was one of the first to have a fab lab.  Chicago was the first big city to build a large scale makerspace in a library. Pumping Station One started in 2009 before it was fashionable to build a makerspace or hackerspace.  Today mHub and DMDII are buzzing with activity and have brought together the traditional manufacturing industries, the startup community, with digital manufacturing technology. It’s a great place for Inventables to be.

X-Carve by Inventables

As a member of the board of Directors at mHUB, what excites you about developments within Chicago and the additive manufacturing sector as a whole?

mHUB was a glimmer of an idea 5 years ago when we first started talking about it at the GE Garage during Chicago Ideas Week. Today it’s a 63,000 square-foot facility that contains 10 fabrication labs, including electronics, plastic fabrication, metals, textiles and rapid prototyping, as well as a microfactory for small production runs.  What excites me is it’s buzzing with activity.

You have a manufacturing background but also have involvement within the VC world as a founding partner at Corazon Capital. Could you give some insight on what it means to go from an entrepreneur to an investor?

Going from an entrepreneur to an investor happens pretty organically.  As you go on your entrepreneurial journey other entrepreneurs start asking you questions or for feedback on fundraising.  I gradually started getting more and more deals sent to me and eventually started investing. Corazon has a team of people and I’ve become a venture partner.  My role is to help identify investments, evaluate them, and help other founders in our portfolio by making introductions or sharing my experiences. In terms of my own investment thesis I like to invest in people working on problems in big markets where the product is just starting to be defined.  At Corazon we invest in seed and early stage deals so the product is still evolving.

What advice do you have to people who are working with startups in the additive manufacturing space?

Fail often to succeed sooner.

What advantages does Chicago have in terms of the global maker scene?

Chicago is well connected in the global maker scene because of O’Hare airport.  Almost every city is a direct flight away. We sometimes take that for granted living here.  We have McCormick Place which brings the IMTS (International Manufacturing Technology Show).

International Manufacturing Trading Show

What are some trends to watch out for within the maker world?

Low cost distributed digital manufacturing with CNC machines is going to dramatically increase over the next 5 years.

 

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3D Printing Industry Experts Interview With Bill Fienup

Bill Fienup

This was a fun and in depth interview done with industry expert Bill Fienup. Bill Fienup, director and innovation services and co-founder of mHUB. He is a mechanical engineer, product developer and serial entrepreneur who has designed toys for Hasbro and researched fusion energy for Los Alamos National Laboratory. Bill holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was a co-founder and president of Catalyze Chicago, which provided space, equipment, mentorship and community to dozens of early-stage product development entrepreneurs. Before merging into mHUB, Catalyze occupied 8,000 square feet, served close to 200 members who filed 80 patents, raised $21M, generated $57M in revenue and created dozens of new jobs. Bill started his career as a product design consultant for IDEO and Insight Product Development. With deep experience in mechanism design, product development and complex electromechanical systems, Bill shifted from consulting to become an entrepreneur. He started several companies, including Ecofurn and MB Labs, which focused on connected devices. Bill holds 11 patents — including a bandage dispenser, biopsy needle and a NERF Atom Blaster with more pending, including several related to 3D printing. Bill’s reputation as a thought leader extends beyond Chicago. In addition to being a repeat visitor to the White House for topics ranging from international trade to the maker movement, Bill has appeared on national television with his inventions.

Ese: What got you interested in 3D Printing?

Bill: Z Corp. I was involved with them as a freshman in college. I got to work with their powder based system. It utilized binder material along with an inkjet cartridge. It is one of the first 3D Printing processes built. This was before the huge 3D Printing boom. I thought it was amazing, and I knew it would change product development. Rapid iteration was wild. Sanding and model making was how my generation thought of products. We were learning CAD and other cool things as well with our classical mindsets.

Explain your early career experiences and how they lead to where you are currently?

I first started with my job at IDEO. I did about 7 years of product development. It was a good experience. I wanted more upside though. I saw businesses being made. I then decided to quit my job to be an entrepreneur. I was doing a lot of work on my own for a while. I wanted to build a community of like-minded people. I realized I was failing by myself trying to create products. I needed a bigger community. I thought it’d be a great idea to build an incubator. Also business skill sets were needed as well. I understood the struggles so I wanted to help others. I met Haven Allen early on with this similar drive and ambition. That is how we started and are currently at our positions at mHUB.

Haven Allen and Bill Fienup

What are the biggest obstacles with the work you have done for mHUB?

It is an ambitious goal in trying to build this type of space. Getting people behind the mission was also very difficult initially. We launched as a nonprofit so entrepreneurs could grow. That business model is tough though because membership drives our revenue. We want them to grow in our community to the point that they do leave us.

What are some things that you feel are important for the future of additive manufacturing? What are interesting trends in Chicago?

Speed is of utmost importance. Speed has been the barrier to actually making products. Typical machines in the industry are being made with quicker efficiency. People are starting to design with 3D Printing in mind. The shoe industry is very interesting when it comes to these type of developments. 3D printers are now finally getting fast enough to do great work. Unique properties are occurring with the use of 3D printing. It will be vital for industries such as the aerospace industry. Lighter materials are always great. So mostly speed, and people designing products is interesting.

Aerospace and 3D Printing

What advice do you have to anyone who is looking to begin their entrepreneurial career?

It is very challenging to do things by yourself. I’d advise people to join an incubator community. A support system of industry expertise is always important. Crowdsourcing is very powerful as well. It is important to have a community. Do not do anything alone. Always look to seek for partnerships. It is critical for your growth.

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3D Printing Industry Expert Interview: Danny Jackson Levy

Danny Jackson Levy is a cross-functional design engineer, providing turnkey solutions using additive manufacturing hardware and design methodologies. He has special interests direct digital manufacturing technologies, medical and dental applications, Addictive Manufacturing, market analysis, open-source 3D Printing for R&D, and 3D/STEM education and curricula development. He works for Fisher Unitech as their 3D printing expert. He also helps run the mHUB lab in Chicago. So without further adieu, tune into our interview.

Ese: Tell me about your educational background?

I moved to Chicago in 2008 and went to Columbia College for Product Design. There where not a lot of people with an art school background in this industry. Different workflows are important. I was able to learn this through my education. This skillset has transferred very well to my career. I also spent a lot of time in the shop at Columbia building projects so that helped me as well. I have always been involved within the maker world.

What got you interested in 3D Printing?

Twitter and a startup really helped me a lot. I was active on twitter and found out about the 3D Printer Experience in Chicago. I then set up shop and got to work. A friend of mine dropped out and became a founder at a startup I worked for as well. Most of what I learned was from hands on experience. It was a lot of work and long nights.

What has changed over time in Chicago since you have been involved with the scene?

A handful of things have changed. The exposure of the field has changed a lot. Way more people are familiar with different tech. People have more access. Positive impacts are made with what is going on in the field. My perception of the field has changed as well. There is a long standing history of manufacturing in Chicago. Too many people feel that it is new, but it really is not new technology. It is important to note people are hyper focused on localized manufacturing. There is a huge mindset that people want to continue new processes to leverage their businesses for the future.

You have had a lot of experience with various products as well as companies trying to leverage 3D Printing. What would you believe are essential components of a product design process?

A willingness for flexibility is really important. People get too focused on a close up view of their product. Perspective is helpful. You have to see beyond what is in front of you. An understanding of tech is crucial as well. Being in mHub, I am able to interface with various levels of people in terms of product development. Engineers may become very focused and may not have an ability to learn even more than their specific sub tasks. Having access is important. Developing a product intently is important. Go try and break things.

 

What are some things that you feel are important for the future of additive manufacturing? What are interesting trends in Chicago?

Changing from outsourcing to insourcing is critical. People know the tech is out there. Coworking at mHub is also a big thing. People want access to this info and machines. Availability is so critical. Shared labs are extremely important. STEM programs and professional development is big now as well. Skill development is big in terms of trends.

I think there are two forms of people within the additive manufacturing field – the creatives and the technical people. Should there be better cross disciplinary thinking encouraged?

Yes. I am a creative thinker. I am the type to hang out with friends and brainstorm endless ideas. I also am interested in the entrepreneurial world. It does not fit into the prototypical engineering role within additive manufacturing. A lot of OEMs hire automotive engineers and engineers straight out of college. It is critical to know mechanical properties. People making waves in this field are finding new ways to print things. It is important to try a different wave of thinking sometimes. It is important to make what you do fun as well. I would love to see people enjoying a hybridization of mindsets. The field would grow more with that.

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3D Printing Industry Experts Interviews: Mike Vazquez

3Degrees

This is part of a series of interviews of people who are active within the additive manufacturing space in Chicago. Today we will be highlighting Dr. Mike Vasquez. Dr. Mike Vasquez is a 3D Printing expert specializing in pushing the boundaries of advanced 3D printing technology. He is the Founder of 3Degrees, a Chicago-based consulting company focused on helping organizations maximize their investment in the technology. He has worked side-by-side with some of the top machine manufacturers, material producers and end users in the industry, consulting with them to identify novel applications, test new materials, and develop frameworks to maximize R&D efficiency and boost ROI. So please enjoy this brief interview!

Ese: Tell me about your background in school.

Mike: I received my bachelor’s and master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT. I received my PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Loughborough. At Loughborough I had a research focus on laser sintering systems for powder based systems. I also had the chance to work with Burton and prototype snowboards for them. It was a fun experience and I even learned to snowboard.

Ese: What got you interested in additive manufacturing?

Mike: There are two things that got me interested in additive manufacturing. Firstly, there are a lot of unsolved problems on the material side of additive manufacturing. Secondly, there is a lot of unsolved problems on the people side as well. I try to think in terms of how does one put the whole process together with a larger team.

Ese: You got a PhD in the UK. Are there any differences in how the UK and the US operate in the additive manufacturing industry?

Mike: Industry collaboration was focused on shorter term projects within the 2-3 window frame of completing a PhD in the UK. Collaborating with a company during your PhD is an immense opportunity. It is very important for both parties. It’s important to make things tangible. A PhD has a lot of expertise, but industry lags a bit at times.

Ese: Have certain ideologies and ways of thought influence the way you operate today in the US from your time in London?

Mike: Generally, I would say that having other perspectives of how people run their businesses and how innovation happens was very positive. I always try to do the best I can to have an open mind and be empathetic to how and why people do what they do. There’s always more for me to learn.

Ese:  Why did you start your company?

Mike:I have an interest in putting a puzzle together with additive manufacturing. There is a need to build within this industry. There are useful cases for 3D Printing that are cost justifiable. I wanted to help companies understand how to leverage this technology. Also I wanted to explore and learn in ways I hadn’t known before. Getting to learn by seeing the scope of small companies and larger corporations really was something that interested me.

Ese: In Chicago there is a trend towards the movement of Industry 4.0, what do you think of this?

Mike: I think it is useful. One thing to remember is there are people involved within all projects we want to create. Technology needs to enable an organization to be more efficient. It is great when applied to people and not replacing things. There are methods to why things are done a certain way. It is hard to replace the person. We need to make tools with the right context and respect for the 3D environment. It is an interesting field for sure to me. Overall there are a lot of positives.

Industry 4.0

Ese: How do you see the future of additive manufacturing?

Mike: It is certainly growing. I think that people are starting to understand how to design really well as well as the underlying technology. Growth is coming from this prototyping environment. The opportunity to apply these learnings from smaller systems is interesting. The leap from prototyping to full production parts takes a lot investment. Bigger industries will help to push the technology forward. Material companies are exploring the technology and exposing people to even more materials. Some universities and K-12 organizations are focusing on 3D Printing education. Workforce development is interesting and it teaches people about what possibilities are available for a first job. I don’t have any predictions, but for the most part the tech is growing.

AMUG

Ese: Lastly, where do you see Chicago in terms of the global additive manufacturing field in the future.

Mike: mHub is an awesome resource. We have a nice central location for travel. We have a lot of exciting companies based here. A lot of companies have a presence here. AMUG will also be here in Chicago soon. It is a great central location as well within the US. The ecosystem here is focused on supporting manufacturing. I think it is as good a place as any to be in.

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3D Printing News Briefs: August 28, 2018

We’re talking about business, cool products, and events in today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, followed by a how-to video on smoothing your 3D prints and a student competition project. Nano Dimension has sold two of its DragonFly Pro 3D printers to separate branches of the US military, while AIO Robotics has introduced its new silicone drawing mat for 3D printing pens. A 3D printing and design company offered a sneak peek of a new 3D printed golf product, and Rize plans to demonstrate its technology at the upcoming IMTS show. A YouTube video explains how to smooth your 3D prints using automotive primer, and Ogle Models helped a university team complete its prototype for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Challenge.

Nano Dimension Sells Two More DragonFly Pro 3D Printers

Israeli additive electronics provider Nano Dimension announced this week that it sold two of its industrial DragonFly 2020 Pro PCB 3D printers to two different branches of the United States Armed Forces. The 3D printer sales were closed by Fathom and TriMech Solutions, two of the company’s top US value added-resellers. This news comes just two months after the company became a certified vendor for the DoD with its Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code, which means it can pursue and conduct business directly with the US Federal Government and its agencies.

“Nano Dimension continues to strengthen its position in the U.S. market, particularly in the U.S. defense sector. These sales to tier one customers demonstrate the attractiveness of our additive manufacturing solution,” said Simon Fried, President of Nano Dimension USA. “The ability to create functional circuit prototypes quickly and securely in-house is a key factor in the increasing adoption of our solution in the multi-billion-dollar U.S. defense sector. Nano Dimension’s DragonFly Pro 3D Printer makes it possible to 3D print radically new designs and improve workflows by leveraging the agility of additive manufacturing. The defense sector is highly motivated to enable additive manufacturing in the field by bypassing traditional manufacturing processes.”

AIO Robotics Introduces Silicone Drawing Mat

High-tech startup AIO Robotics, creator of the ZEUS All-In-One 3D Printer, is introducing its latest innovation – a silicone mat perfect for drawing on with your favorite 3D printing pen. The mat, made out of premium, heat-resistant silicone material, is available on Amazon for just $12.99, though you can save 10% on the mat when you also purchase one AIO Pen or an AIO Pen Filament.

The Silicone Mat for 3D Pen Drawing is perfect for many materials, including PLA, ABS, and PETG, and can be used for simplified but high-precision 3D drawing of grids, circles, and rectangular shapes. When you purchase the mat, you will also receive two free silicone finger protectors, which allow you to safely and easily remove filament from a hot 3D pen tip.

3D Printed Golf Ball Accessory

3D printing and design company Two Brothers 3D Printing Solutions, based in Massachusetts, offers consulting, 3D printing, and CAD services, and also works hard to, as its website states, “showcase the incredible and affordable technology that is 3D printing.”

“Over the past 4 years, brothers Ryan and Tyler Stacy have spent countless hours learning the ins and outs of 3D printing. Over that time, the two have been able to use 3D printing to create solutions for many different areas; from power tools to prosthetics, replacement parts, birthday gifts, and quite literally, anything in between.”

Earlier this week, the company posted its latest unique 3D printed solution on Twitter – a moveable contraption, called a TeeMate, used to pick up golf balls so golfers do not have to bend down to do it themselves. Fore!

Rize to Showcase Its Technology at IMTS

At the upcoming IMTS 2018 show, 3D printing company Rize will be showcasing its technology at the booth belonging to Fuji Machine America Corporation. Rize makes industrial 3D printing safe and easy with its Rize One hybrid 3D printer, and can produce parts that have best-in-class strength in all axes. Additionally, thanks to its unique ink marking capability, the company also provides what it calls “the industry’s only Digitally Augmented Part capability for traceability and compliance.”

At IMTS 2018, representatives from Rize and its authorized reseller, Dynamic Machine, will demonstrate the technology’s quick and clean support removal, and explain how the company’s industrial 3D printing can be combined with Fuji’s comprehensive automated manufacturing solutions in order to provide significant cost and time advantages. Come see the Rize One for yourself, and get all your questions answered, at Fuji’s booth #339059 at the IMTS 2018 show, September 10-15 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Smooth 3D Prints with Automotive Primer

We’ve seen people smooth their 3D prints with epoxy and with acetone, but this is a new one – automotive primer. Youtuber gordontarpley recently published a video about how well it works to smooth your 3D prints with 2k automotive primer, saying that it’s been his “main method for the last few months.”

“I get asked all the time, ‘How do you clean up your 3D prints?’ and the method always varies. So I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to make a video about that,” Tarpley said.

“Most of the time I go straight from a 3D print…and I will just start with primer. Primer paint and then I’ll paint a layer, sand it, paint, sand, over and over until it looks smooth.”

Tarpley said that’s he learned some valuable information about the primers in this way. To learn more about smoothing your 3D prints with automotive primer, check out the video below:

3D Printed Prototype for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Challenge

Prototyping company Ogle Models and Prototypes has a history of helping student university teams with their competition projects. Recently, the company worked with a team from University College London (UCL) to create an unmanned aircraft prototype for their entry in the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Challenge, which is held by the Institutions of Mechanical Engineers and designed to develop and inspire the next generation of engineers.

The student team had to design, manufacture, and operate an unmanned aircraft that could complete several tasks simulating a humanitarian mission. The team ran into some issues – in order to endure wind tunnel testing, their prototype would need pressure taps in order to sample air distribution across it. So they called on Ogle for assistance, which recommended SLA 3D printing for the job so they could lower costs by building the taps within the model.

“The accuracy of industrial SLA ensured that the complex geometry of the scaled-down aerodynamic surfaces was replicated with precision. For clarity reasons, the team chose ClearVue resin, which allowed the pressure tapping pathways to be seen on the finished model,” explained Matt White, Senior Sales Engineer at Ogle.

“UCL is regarded as one of the best institutions in the country when it comes to training tomorrow’s mechanical engineers and we were only too happy to help when the team approached us.”

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3D Printing News Briefs: August 18, 2018

In 3D Printing News Briefs, in which we share news about some upcoming events, and then move on to business, science, and 3D printing pen art. Europac 3D and Addition Design and Research are showing their plans for the upcoming TCT Show, and the Formlabs Roadshow is coming to Chicago next month. Makelab has launched its on-demand production platform, powered by AMFG software, and Rize published a brief about 3D printing in life sciences. Finally, 3Doodler announced an upcoming video class series on 3D printing pen art.

Europac 3D Announces Lineup for TCT Show 2018

Top UK 3D printing, scanning, and inspection business Europac 3D announced that its booth for this year’s TCT Show in Birmingham will be its “biggest and most informative” yet, showcasing the latest in 3D printing innovations. In addition to displaying and 3D printing a range of sunglasses during the show to illustrate its end-to-end solutions, the company will also display 3D printers from HP and UnionTech, NX software from Siemens, and 3D scanners from Artec and Kreon Technologies. Experts will also be on hand at Europac’s booth to answer any questions.

“We will have our biggest and best stand to date at TCT this year and will be hosting 3D printing, scanning and modelling experts to provide visitors with a one stop shop for all their technical queries,” said John Beckett, Managing Director of Europac. “Europac 3D will be on hand to demonstrate all of our latest projects and innovations. We look forward to welcoming visitors to our stand for what promises to be an unforgettable event.”

Check out what Europac to offer at Stand M26 at the TCT Show, running from September 25th-27th.

Addition Design and Research Attending TCT Show 2018

Another 3D printing company that’s announced its plans to exhibit at the TCT Show is contract research and development (CRD) supplier Addition Design & Research, which provides end-to-end advanced design and manufacturing solutions using 3D printing. While the company is rather new to the 3D printing industry, it’s long worked at the intersection of CRD, high value design and engineering, and AM with other organizations to create high quality business solutions.

Addition Design & Research will be available during the TCT Show at Stand K49 for one-on-one meetings to provide insight into its expertise, offer advice on how to adopt 3D printing, and to discuss collaboration. Any organizations in the UK searching for a primer on using 3D printing as a business solution should attend the company’s training course in Sheffield just ahead of the show.

Formlabs Roadshow Hits the Road in Chicago

The popular Formlabs Roadshow has visited many big cities, from New York City and San Francisco to Los Angeles and now Chicago.

“Formlabs is traveling to industry hubs across North America to celebrate the capabilities of 3D printing in digital manufacturing,” the event reads. “We are bringing together local innovators and global disruptors to discuss how accessible 3D printing technology is enabling manufacturing across the business and education landscapes. Join us as we tackle opportunities and barriers in digital manufacturing and design with industry experts.”

The event, which centers around taking advantage of Industry 4.0, will be held from 10:30 – 2 on Friday, September 14th at the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII). Speakers include several well-known 3D printing experts, including Luke Winston, the Chief Business Officer at Formlabs, and Siemens’ Additive Manufacturing Solutions Director Chris Weber, with more to be announced soon. Tickets are less than $70, so sign up here to attend.

Makelab Launched On-Demand Production Platform

Brooklyn-based 3D printing service bureau Makelab is partnering with AMFG, which creates automation software for industrial 3D printing, to launch a new on-demand production platform. AMFG’s software will automate Makelab’s manufacturing operations, as well as make its 3D printing services more accessible to universities, engineers, and designers. Customers can use AMFG’s on-demand portal to easily request 3D printed parts with its auto-quoting tool, while Makelab will be able to track parts and requests, automatically schedule jobs and optimize build space, plan for post-processing, and conduct quality assurance.

“With AMFG, we’ve found an end-to-end solution which not only takes care of the auto-quoting in a more user-friendly and intuitive way, but also takes care of managing production, which is a huge advantage for us. As we scale our business, we’re always looking for innovative ways to solve key issues like keeping track of all our machines, effectively packing builds and ultimately, optimising our workflow for maximum efficiency,” said Makelab Co-Founder Christina Perla. “AMFG answered all of these questions and more, so we can provide a faster, more efficient service for our customers.”

Rize Commissions Brief on Life Sciences 3D Printing

Boston-based 3D printing company Rize recently commissioned a new Insight Brief, titled “Personalized 3D Printing in Life Sciences,” written by Axendia’s Eric Luyer, an Industry Research Analyst, and Ellyn McMullin, a Research Associate. There are many applications for 3D printing in the healthcare, medical device, pharmaceutical, and surgery industries, and Life Sciences companies can use the technology to break down barriers. But there are plenty of complex regulations to be managed in order for this to be successful. The brief discusses 3D printing applications in Life Sciences, some of the FDA guidelines, and how Rize’s 3D printing Augmented Polymer Deposition (APD) technology is very important to controlling some of the important processes that Life Sciences manufacturers need.

“RIZE’S patented APD system is key to Traceability, Control of Process Parameters and validated processes that Manufacturers must maintain and control to meet FDA 21 CFR 820.30 Design Controls requirements. It’s an industrial 3D Printer where complex geometry can be manufactured matching patients’ anatomy,” said Kishore Boyalakuntla, Vice President of Product at RIZE.

The brief also discusses how global medical device manufacturer CONMED used Rize’s technology to 3D print molds for producing medical-grade elastomeric products.

3Doodler Working on 3D Pen Art Video Class Series

Popular Kickstarter-backed company 3Doodler is working with Bluprint, owned by NBCUniversal, on a series of 3D Pen Art video classes aimed at teaching makers and crafters how to create works of art with the 3Doodler Create+ 3D Pen. Its content, available for free online through Bluprint, Craftsy, and streaming apps like Roku, will be part of the new entity’s expanded subscription service, and Grace Du Prez, an internationally renowned 3D pen artist whose work we’ve covered before, will be the host of the show, which marks the first such broadcast agreement for 3Doodler.

Six episodes will run through the 2018 holiday season, and the first five are already up, covering projects like phone cases, terrariums, and lantern lights; you will need to sign up for a free Bluprint trial to watch. The sixth video class will be an episode of Doodle Wars, a new, family-friendly NBC competition series. Check out a teaser video for Doodle Wars below:

NEW SHOW TIME: Doodle Wars is here ! These artists are incredible and thanks to this show I’m now calling myself Bob Ross Jr. Shoutout to Bluprint NBC and the whole awesome Hudsun Media team that made it happen and our great judges Zoe Hong + Jon Chad. Catch the whole season over at mybluprint.com now!….#doodlewars #iamadoodlerwarrior #doodle #scribble #draw #art #doodling #competition #mybluprint

Gepostet von Paul Costabile am Mittwoch, 15. August 2018

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